18 IN THE VISION OF GOD
made to start. Ramdas, Umanathrao and another friend,
crossing a river by boat, came to the road leading to Kollur
which lay through a dense forest. Here they boarded a
bullock-cart. The path was narrow and rugged—cut through
a -vast extensive jungle spreading all along the way to
Kollur. The jungle \vas infested with wild beasts. Kollur
was reached witlout anything of importance having
occurred on the way.
Kollur is a small village on a plateau bounded on three
sides by tall mountains called Kotashadri hills. A dense
forest of giant trees growing on these lofty and towering
hills lent a peculiar majesty and fascination to the place.
In the centre of the village is situated the shrine of
Mukambika—the Mother of the universe. Umanathrao led
Eamdas directly to the part of the outer building of the
temple where the saint was lodging. Ramdas bowed down
before the holy saint. He appeared to be over 70 years old.
His eyes were large and greenish in tint and their expres-
sion was distant and listless but mingled with a gleam of
tenderness and cheer. He owned a flowing grey beard that
lent sanctity and light of wisdom to his full and beaming
face. He was seen squatting on the floor, wearing only a
kaupin. Having enquired after the welfare of the visitors
he straightaway launched into religious talks.
He recounted a good many stories from Bhagawat and
other sources. He discoursed eloquently upon bhakti or
love of God. In the enthusiasm of the talks his body
would convulse with spiritual rapture. At intervals he
would shut his eyes and sit silent for a minute or two, his
face lit up by a strange, spiritual glow. He referred to his
body as a monkey prone to all sorts of tricks.
"Look here," he would say pointing to his body, "this
monkey is often up to its tricks. The limbs get so cramped
with rheumatism that they refuse to move about freely,"
and he would add with a chuckle, "the monkey is always
full of cbeshta".